The National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has tackled the AkwaIbom state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel over an alleged negligence to their welfare which borders on payment of bursary, issuance of scholarship, improved condition of learning and grants for special students(Law and Medical students).
The students body also raised alarm to threat to lives of its leadership particurlarly of its President, Comrade Danielson Akpan.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Tuesday, the NANs president said since the AkwaIbom state government has failed to honour the one week ultimatum issued it to pay up the bursary owed it’s students, the students have no option than to embark on massive protests.
He also warned gov. Emmanuel to risk vote apathy from the students community if he fails to yield to their course.
Akpan recalled that since the ultimatum was issued to the state government on the 12th of January 2019, his executive members and himself have been inundated with harrasments and threats to their lives noting that governor Emmanuel should be held responsible incase something bad happens to him or any of his executive members.
He wondered why Gov. Emmanuel led administration was unable to pay bursary which is their constitutional right but has the money and resources to quickly pay not less than N100 million to some unidentified students within one month just to seek political endorsement.
The statement partly read, “NANS has demanded for immediate payment of bursary and scholarship. The ultimatum elapsed today as the Akwaibom government has deliberately refused to pay bursary to students since assumption of governor Emmanuel to office.
“A government that courts students on political praise singing cannot but be determined to punish them for ignorantly signing out their future in exchange for political patronage.
“The students, not those usually hired for political endorsements are determined this time to secure their rights. They have decided to embark on massive protests, there will be total resistance to the sheer neglect of the rights of students.
“We can no longer remain pawns on their chessboard. The Udom government has denigrated AkwaIbom students and it is time to say Enough is Enough!
“Ever since we issued the ultimatum, we are aware that there are plans to silence our position and possibly come after key officials of the NANS leadership, particularly the president of NANS. We have been reliably informed that some thugs have been contracted to hack down NANS president. We are calling on the entire world to hold governor Udom responsible should anything happens to the NANS president or any of the officials.
“Having failed in delivering dividends of democracy in the educational sector, the governor resorted to hiring the students for political endorsements. It is the height of degradation of our dignity. This total neglect of education is akin to taking us back to the inglorious days of slavery, human capital under development and poor education.
“Allocations to Tertiary Institutions are grossly inadequate and infrastructural facilities are overstretched and obsolete. We call on the government to rededicate to the human capital development instead of impoverishing them.”
On why the agitation was coming few days to the elections and whether it was politically motivated, the outspoken President said, “The time to fight for our rights is now, besides i assumed office as the NANS president few months ago.
